as in detectives
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the popular TV sleuth lives a much more action-packed life than do his real-world counterparts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of sleuths
At the same time, social media sleuths shared inaccurate information and a man was detained after allegedly trying to drive through a barricade near the church.
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Dave Boucher, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The video quickly spread online, with sleuths tying the pair back to a tech company whose CEO resigned in the fallout.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
The Thursday Murder Club is about amateur sleuths.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell famously manufactured a phony real-life romance — all while Sweeney was still engaged — that got internet sleuths buzzing and bolstered audience interest to see what chemistry might be on screen.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2025
Social media sleuths have gathered clues that allegedly tie D4vd, legal name David Anthony Burke, to the victim.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 18 Sep. 2025
But when internet sleuths teased out that Fulmer was having an affair with a Try Guys employee, the drama exploded from a private matter into a public spectacle, ending with Fulmer leaving the group after a public apology.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
However, once the series took over everyone’s TVs, some internet sleuths determined that their family trees do not cross.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
As law enforcement continue the search, online sleuths began hypothesizing about the suspect's escape from the scene, leading some to the Provo Airport (PVU), a public-use regional airfield less than 15 minutes drive from UVU’s campus.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Dave Boucher, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The video quickly spread online, with sleuths tying the pair back to a tech company whose CEO resigned in the fallout.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
The Thursday Murder Club is about amateur sleuths.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell famously manufactured a phony real-life romance — all while Sweeney was still engaged — that got internet sleuths buzzing and bolstered audience interest to see what chemistry might be on screen.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2025
Social media sleuths have gathered clues that allegedly tie D4vd, legal name David Anthony Burke, to the victim.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 18 Sep. 2025
But when internet sleuths teased out that Fulmer was having an affair with a Try Guys employee, the drama exploded from a private matter into a public spectacle, ending with Fulmer leaving the group after a public apology.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
However, once the series took over everyone’s TVs, some internet sleuths determined that their family trees do not cross.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
As law enforcement continue the search, online sleuths began hypothesizing about the suspect's escape from the scene, leading some to the Provo Airport (PVU), a public-use regional airfield less than 15 minutes drive from UVU’s campus.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuths
Noun
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During his confession, Jones said the Nestors hired him to clean around their business — and told detectives what led up to the killings.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
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Yan Wang allegedly arrived at the home as police were doing their initial investigation and spoke with detectives, claiming to be a friend and colleague of Howard Wang’s, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Monson eventually turned himself in on the advice of his father after investigators showed up at his sister’s house, officials said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Ed later told investigators that his father had abused both him and his older sibling.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sleuths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuths. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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